Fort Simpson RCMP respond to stranded boater in medical distress

Around 10:30 am yesterday, Fort Simpson RCMP received an SOS message about a man in medical distress. The SOS message was sent by two boaters who had come across three stranded boaters, one who seemed to be in medical distress.

The RCMP received the call from the Mackenzie River, about 35 km north of the community of Fort Simpson.

Fort Simpson RCMP made contact, confirmed the location, and reached out to community partners to coordinate a rescue effort.

The GNWT Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) provided their boat with two crew members, and Emergency Health Services (EHS) also sent two trained paramedics to the location.

Fort Simpson RCMP and an EHS ambulance travelled parallel on land in the event that a marine rescue was not possible.

Around 12:30 pm, the ENR boat and EHS paramedics reached the three stranded boaters and brought them to Fort Simpson. One man received medical attention at the Community Health Centre, while the boaters were fine.

“This is a great example of relationships in the North,” says states Marie York-Condon, Northwest Territories RCMP Media Relations. “The SOS call was made by boaters who came across the distress situation. The response was a team of GNWT, community and RCMP showcasing how well our partnerships work together in our Northern communities,” says Condon.

The RCMP are also reminding people travelling on water or land to carry a satellite phone, marine radio, emergency communications device or other means of communication, inform others of their travel plans, carry emergency supplies and learn survival skills.